As I write, Russia’s army has entered Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. It is clear now that the threat of sanctions did not dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching his invasion.
World leaders came together in Glasgow last November to map out a path to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. But while the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) was undoubtedly a historic moment, most countries are just beginning their work to meet new goals to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.That is why the announcement by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Indonesian and Philippine governments at COP26 stood out.
Leaders from almost 200 countries worldwide came together in Glasgow, United Kingdom, to help advance concrete actions addressing the climate crisis. After a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) commenced on 31 October to 12 November 2021 with the hope to secure global commitments in mitigation, adaptation, and finance.Among the participants, leaders and delegates from ASEAN countries were present to neg
Smokestacks belch noxious fumes into the air from a massive coal-fired power plant on the Indonesian coast, a stark illustration of Asia's addiction to the fossil fuel which is threatening climate targets. Asia-Pacific accounts for about three-quarters of global coal consumption – even as the region struggles with the environmental and public health impacts of global warming, from deadly levels of air pollution in India to extreme heatwaves and wildfires in Australia. H
The transition towards cleaner energy has made progress but not quick enough to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, as agreed in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.While the COVID-19 pandemic initially caused a drop in greenhouse gas emissions as economic activity dropped, the pandemic may not have accelerated the shift to renewables:Renewables Boom Renewables are now the number two source of electricity in the world with a 26 percent share in 2019 – behind coal, but
Many people say that damage to the environment is a risk of development. Based on this belief, there is also the assumption that it is impossible that development without destroying the environment can be realized.
United States (US) climate envoy John Kerry warned Thursday that Beijing's coal building spree could "undo" global capacity to meet environmental targets, after holding talks with top officials in China.Tensions between Beijing and Washington have soared in recent months with the two sides trading barbs on China's human rights record and its initial handling of the coronavirus.Tackling climate change is among a handful of issues where the two sides had struck notes of harm
ASEAN Member States (AMS) need to step up their game on energy storage development. As the 6th ASEAN Energy Outlook foretells, ASEAN’s Total Final Energy Consumption (TFEC) projects to increase by 38 percent by 2025 and 146 percent by 2040, from 375 Mtoe in 2017 to 922 million or mega tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2040. ASEAN’s top priority in facing this situation is to supply the growing demand with clean and sustainable energy.
Cities around the world were turning off their lights on Saturday for Earth Hour, with this year's event highlighting the link between the destruction of nature and increasing outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19.Starting off the event, at 8:30 pm the skylines of Asian metropolises from Singapore to Hong Kong went dark, as did landmarks including Sydney Opera House. The annual event calls for action on climate change and the environment, and this year, organisers said they want t
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that COVID-19 cases in Indonesia are the highest in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has recorded over 800,000 cases to date and the numbers seem to be increasing by the day.Due to the pandemic, Indonesia’s economic growth contracted at -3.49 percent by the third quarter of 2020; and there has been slowing growth in all sectors.
Shuttered shops, idle production lines, grounded planes - the coronavirus pandemic has devastated several industries, not least the aviation and automobile sectors, but also retail and energy.Here is a recap of some major casualties, amid layoffs, bankruptcies and rescue plans: Crash LandingAmong the big-hitters in crisis in the air transport sector are two Latin American carriers, including the region's biggest airline LATAM, and Colombia's Avianca, both of which have file
Oil plunged over 20 percent Monday after top exporter Saudi Arabia launched a price war in response to a failure by leading producers to strike a deal to support energy markets.The two main contracts both lost about a fifth of their value in morning Asian trade, with West Texas Intermediate sliding to about US$32 a barrel and Brent crude to about US$36 a barrel.Saudi Arabia launched an all-out oil war Sunday with the biggest cut in its prices in the last 20 years after a failing to clinch a d
